While it's certainly a majority thing for CR members to watch the current season's shows, I'm pretty sure most CR members in their late teens and onwards will know a thing or two about older anime and will want to discuss it. Rather than trying to take the CR forums as one collective person, why not start a thread on older anime yourself and see who replies?

I certainly think it's getting easier to watch the latest season's anime, what with Crunchyroll's continual growth. That said, the only 2 I'm watching so far this season are Oreimo and Date a Live, and that was only because I'd already watched the first series in the case of the former and happened across it without realising how new it was in the case of the latter.

It's definitely easier to find conversations on the latest shows, too. It's only really enormous hits (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Fullmetal Alchemist etc.) or the long-running serials that stay right in the forefront of the limelight even years after their airing (even then, these examples are hardly vintage, and they're still overshadowed by the latest crazes like Sword Art Online...)

I didn't care for the discussions on here until I went on the Gargantia discussion thread a few days ago. Really fun and I like hearing other people's opinions on what happen, what will happen, etc. Once the show is over you can;t really explore those themese besides "I thought the show was going one way, and then this happened" and even then you can't remember it all. Either way, I'll probably be more active in show discussions, at least for Original Anime as I don't want to get spoiled from the manga/ light novel (I'm looking at you, Attack on Titan and OreImo).

But the number one reason for why I watch current season anime if for the gems that don't quite get popular. If I didn't keep up with the current season, I'd probably only be watching Gargantia, and Attack on Titan. Both great shows, but I wouldnt be watching SNAFU (pretty good), Devil is a Part Timer (really funny at times), and most of all Aku No Hana (fucking AMAZING). You will miss out on good shows that may suite your taste that don't quite make it big. The shows that stand the test of time aren't the only good ones, and you will miss out on those lesser titles that may be better. I make it my personal obligation to watch almost every show or at least look up a quick review on the first few episodes.

I enjoy watching the current season's stuff. It is the reason that I got a premium membership for CR. Sure, I like to watch older stuff too, but if I had to choose between watching older stuff and the new season's titles, I would generally pick the new. I like the anticipation and the not knowing what comes next, even if it doesn't always work that way. (I tend to be able to predict most stories ahead of time, and sometimes you have already read the manga ...)

One thing I think should be noted is that discussing a show while it is current yields an exponentially much lower chance of catching a spoiler, and nobody likes getting that. It's different if the anime is an epic being brought to the screen from a manga like Attack on Titan since spoilers are still a threat regardless, but for the most part you needn't worry as much about getting spoiled in a thread of an anime that is current even if there is a manga since there are many who do not read manga.

It's really much similar to the way of fashion. Things come and go, as does the discussion around said things if any. So I'm inclined to say yes, the best time to really discuss the anime is while it's current. It's also much easier to get through an anime watching one episode a week instead of the daunting "marathon" you have to put yourself through to catch up later down the road. It's a much more moderated form of keeping up to date on all the latest anime, that in my opinion, makes being anime fan easier, seeing as you free yourself up of time instead of having to alot chunks of your day to a marathon.

Anime that has left a footprint either by raising the bar or lowering it, tends to retroactively cause discussion despite not being current. You might find that a discussion will occasionally pop up over the endless eight arc from The Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, or the ending to School Days. These kinds of things always have the potential to spark discussion in the anime community because of the implications of their execution and the lasting impression it gave, things we will all hardly find ourselves able to forget.

I'm really impatient but I only watch legally so I watch everything I like on Crunchyroll and Funimation as soon as I can after it airs. Just me. After shows are over I do like to marathon them however as it seems I can keep the story and characters straight better watching them one after another. But I still love my simulcasts. Not to be cool, because I like to watch them, they're exciting waiting every week.

It does hurt my reading time. I buy so many books but I read them too slow, argh... need to stop watching anime for a few months or something!

A recent trick I've started developing is my anime bank.... I just bank 2-3 shows that are prolly gems and marathon at the end of the season.
I just recently tapped into The Devil is a Part timer and the show is frecking amazing, highly recommend for any people who like'd Gintama or Beelzibub... At this point I've almost watched any anime out there that's old and interesting to me, so its just a matter of keeping up with the season's new shows... But you shouldn't feel overwhelmed fuck I wish I had that feeling I get all gitty when I find a hidden gem with 11-12 eps ;p.... Enjoy it at your own pace, once you've tapped all the good shows its only a matter of time till your really waiting for a spec day of the week for your shows.... Tuesdays is permantly engraved as a bleach day for me :(, same with sundays fairytail...

It is not necessary to do anything. It makes it easier to discuss the new shows but I am the kind of person who will lose their mind if I have to wait for a week to watch the next ep so for the most part I will wait. And as far as discussing older shows, well most have already seen and discussed them and don't feel the need to bring the convo back up. You could always kick them up again if ya want.

The older anime(s) do attend to forget about them, they are mostly interested into the new ones because of the amazing plot or new action.
The discussions on the older ones are always like,"this brings back memories!" Or "omg I haven't seen this show when I was a little kid" they probably watch it to remember the happenings.

I'd usually watch the new anime(s) that are currently airing because I really want to know the happenings and what the story is all about. Sometimes I'd want to wait until its finished but all the discussions about how great it is and why they're so excited for the next episode, describing how incredible this anime is!
It makes me want to watch it because I want to catch up and experience what others are saying about it.
I sometimes leave the current airing ones and watch the ones that are a bit older because first of all it's finished and second of all people really liked and I usually have doubts about how bad it'll turn out. After I finish that, move on to the current one that is airing .